Four Reading United alumni heard their names called in the 2023 Major League Soccer (MLS) SuperDraft on Wednesday evening – Amferny Sinclair, Russell Shealy, Frantz Pierrot, and Lyam MacKinnon.
Reading has now had 79 alumni selected in the MLS SuperDraft, and now over 150 players who have gone on to play professionally, be drafted, or have an international cap.
Sinclair was selected by Real Salt Lake with the 45th overall selection in the draft, after polishing off his senior season in Syracuse with an NCAA National Championship and 61 games started for the Orange.
Amferny played for Reading’s USL League Two Finalist squad in 2019, seeing time in 10 games – including all four playoff matches. In 742 minutes, the midfielder tallied an assist and four shots. Prior to college, Sinclair was an integral part of the Costa Rican Youth National Teams, playing at the U15, U17, and U20 level.
Shealy was snatched off the big board by LA Galaxy with the 52nd selection. The redshirt senior backstopped Syracuse to a national crown, starting 24 games to the tune of a 0.73 goals against average and a 17-2-5 record with 10 shutouts. Shealy was doubly impressive with Reading this past season, starting eight games with a 1.50 goals against and 40 saves. Prior to Syracuse, Shealy was a member of the Atlanta United Academy program.
Pierrot packs his bags for Houston after the Dynamo selected him with the 63rd pick in the draft. The UConn forward saw time in the 2018 season, playing in two games for Reading and tallying a single shot. In his single season with the Huskies, Pierrot played in 14 games with a dozen starts, scoring five goals with two assists.
The younger brother of Reading-alum Frantzdy Pierrot, current Maccabi Haifa and Haitian National Team stalwart, Frantz will look to carve out his own career stateside.
MacKinnon was picked up with the 84th selection by Nashville, following his senior season at Villanova. The dynamic forward played in four games for Reading in the 2021 season, attempting 10 shots and netting one goal – a game winner.
The Swiss attacker finished his Wildcat career with 15 goals, 10 assists, and 40 points in 49 games played (46 starts). Six of his goals were game winners – in
